How Much Does an App Cost? Cost Factors, Packages and Running Costs

What an app costs depends mainly on five factors: platforms, scope of features, backend including admin area, interfaces and design. For orientation: at Nano Concepts, lean web tools and simple web apps start in the Starter package from €2,500, apps with a backend, API and interfaces in the Professional package from €8,000; large platforms receive an individual quote in the Enterprise package.

“How much does an app cost?” is one of the most frequent questions in our initial consultations. The honest answer, “it depends,” sounds evasive but is the heart of the matter: an app can be a lean tool with three screens or a platform with user accounts, payments, interfaces and an admin area. This article shows what determines the price, which running costs arise after launch and how to use your budget deliberately.

Why there is no flat price for apps

Flat prices on the internet look tempting, but say little. Two apps that look similar at first glance can differ considerably in effort – for example, if one only displays content while the other has to work offline, reconcile data with an inventory management system and process payments. A price can only be quoted reliably once the target group, features and conditions are clear. That is why every quote of ours is preceded by a free initial consultation.

The most important cost factors at a glance

The overview shows where the effort comes from and where you can counteract it.

Factor	Why it creates effort	Lever
Platforms (iOS, Android, web)	Each platform brings its own requirements for design, testing and publication.	start with one platform or a cross-platform solution
Technology (native, cross-platform, PWA)	Native apps are built separately per platform, cross-platform apps share a codebase, a PWA runs in the browser.	choose by device features and distribution channel
Scope of features	Every feature costs concept, design, development and testing; roles and permissions, chat, maps, camera, push, payments and offline operation noticeably drive up the effort.	limit to an MVP
Backend and admin area	A server for data, user management and notifications plus an admin area for maintenance – invisible to users, but often a large share of the effort.	use proven services and building blocks
Interfaces	The effort depends on how well the CRM, inventory system, booking system or payment provider is documented and which data flows in which direction.	prioritize interfaces, obtain documentation early
Design and user guidance	A custom brand world with animations costs more than a simple layout; good UX pays off through usage and fewer support requests.	align design with target group and budget
Security, data protection and law	Sensitive data raises the requirements for encryption, permissions and documentation; the privacy policy and store disclosures are part of it.	collect only the data that is really needed

You can find details on technology and platform choice in the article App development: The process from idea to store. A progressive web app is often the most economical option when no store listing is needed; most apps also need a backend with an API.

Three typical starting points and matching packages

Without promising prices, app projects can be roughly divided into three groups. The packages give a first classification; what counts is the scope we record after the initial consultation.

Starting point	Typical characteristics	Package
Lean tool	few screens, hardly any user management, content from a simple source – such as a calculator, catalog or form; often feasible as a web app or PWA	Starter from €2,500
App with a backend	user accounts, own database, admin area, push notifications and one or two interfaces – the typical case for business and customer apps	Professional from €8,000
Platform	several user groups, payments, many interfaces, high load or offline operation; planning in milestones with scalable architecture	Enterprise – individual quote

The Professional package includes backend, API, database, user management and interfaces. Enterprise is aimed at large platforms with scalable cloud architecture and long-term collaboration.

Running costs after launch – and often forgotten items

An app is not finished once it is published. Plan for these running items from the start:

• Hosting and infrastructure for the backend, database and file storage
• Maintenance: adjustments to new iOS and Android versions as well as security updates
• Store fees: Apple charges an annual fee for its developer program, Google a one-time registration fee; for sales of digital content in the app, the stores also keep a commission – the terms change, so check the current conditions
• Third-party services: for example for maps, push services, email delivery or AI features
• Further development: new features based on user feedback

Set aside a separate, annually recurring amount for maintenance and operation. If you budget only for initial development, there is no money for updates after launch – a common reason why apps become outdated. The following items are often overlooked in the calculation:

• legal texts and data protection documentation
• store content such as screenshots, descriptions and icon, possibly in several languages
• data migration from legacy systems or Excel lists
• testing on several devices and operating system versions
• rollout and training for employee apps
• accessibility: if consumers can conclude contracts in the app, the German BFSG may apply (since June 28, 2025) – planning it into the design is cheaper than retrofitting

How to reduce costs without compromising on quality

1. Start with an MVP: only the features needed for the first real value
2. Consider cross-platform: one codebase for iOS and Android where it technically fits
3. Use proven services: do not reinvent login, payments or maps
4. Formulate requirements clearly: The more precise the scope, the more accurate the quote.
5. Prioritize features: everything that is not a must-have goes into later versions.
6. Test early: A clickable prototype uncovers misunderstandings before they become expensive.

You should not cut back on security, data protection, testing and clean architecture: if these are missing, the costs arise later – and usually higher.

Practical example: offline capability as a cost driver

One example from our projects is a mobile app for service technicians with offline synchronization. Technicians often work in basements, utility rooms or in rural areas – without a stable connection. The app therefore has to store jobs, forms and photos locally and reconcile them reliably later, even if two people have edited the same job. This requirement sounds like a detail, but it fundamentally changes architecture, data model and testing:

Aspect	Online only	With offline operation
Data storage	data is stored on the server	data is also stored locally on the device and has to be reconciled
Conflicts	hardly relevant	rules needed when two people change the same job
Photos and files	upload directly	cache and transfer reliably later
Testing	standard cases	additionally dead zones, reconnection and interruption during transfer

These are exactly the points we clarify in the initial consultation, so that the quote later delivers what it promises.

Comparing quotes: fixed price, time and materials, and checklist

Fixed price or billing by effort – both have their place. A fixed price gives planning certainty, but requires a clearly described scope. Billing by effort is more flexible when requirements are still evolving during the project – for example, because you want to test with real users first. We often combine both: the first version is built at a fixed price, and further development is billed transparently by effort.

To make quotes comparable, ask every provider:

• Which scope is included – and what is explicitly not?
• Which assumptions underlie the price, for example about platforms, interfaces and offline operation?
• How is acceptance regulated?
• In whose name are the developer accounts registered, and how are source code and documentation handled?
• What does operation cost after launch, and which maintenance is included?

Checklist for your cost estimate

• Who uses the app, and which problem does it solve?
• Which platforms are needed?
• Which features belong in the first version, which later?
• Are there user accounts, roles, payments or offline operation?
• Which systems should the app exchange data with?
• Who maintains content, and is an admin area needed for that?
• What budget is planned for operation and further development?

How Nano Concepts supports you

After the free initial consultation, you receive a transparent quote – preferably at a fixed price when the scope is clearly defined. We also check whether funding programs may be available for your project. You can find more about our approach on the Mobile Apps page – or simply book an initial consultation right away.